Coal India Limited (CIL) has experienced a significant recovery in coal production and power sector supplies following the reduction of monsoon rainfall across its mining regions. The company's daily average production increased by 35%, rising from 1.36 Million Tonnes (MT) during the rain-affected period of September 1-3 to approximately 1.83 MT on September 6, 2026. This improvement was driven primarily by CIL's subsidiaries, with Northern Coalfields Limited (NCL) showing a 61% increase from 0.18 MT to 0.29 MT and South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL) increasing by 33% from 0.15 MT to 0.20 MT during the same comparative period.

The production recovery has directly translated into improved dispatches to the power sector, with average daily supplies increasing by 24% from approximately 1.37 MT during the first three days of September to 1.7 MT as of September 6, 2026. Subsidiary performance was particularly strong, with NCL's power-sector dispatch increasing by 56% from 0.18 MT to 0.28 MT and SECL's dispatch rising by 23% from 0.30 MT to 0.37 MT.

A key indicator of future production readiness, Overburden Removal (OBR), showed substantial improvement with average daily OBR doubling from 2.5 Million Cubic Metres (MCuM) during the first three days of September to 5.1 MCuM on September 6, 2026. This improvement was even more pronounced at the subsidiary level, with NCL showing a fourfold increase and SECL recording over three times growth in OBR during the same period.

CIL has implemented several operational measures to accelerate recovery, including reappropriating and remobilizing resources to full deployment strength, continuous dewatering of lower-horizon coal seams, and strengthening affected haul roads and transportation routes. The availability of dry working benches and dry raw coal has improved coal handling characteristics due to reduced moisture and stickiness.

The company is taking additional measures to strengthen power plant supplies, particularly for critical plants drawing coal through Washery and RCR mode. Coal is being offered beyond the Monthly Scheduled Quantity (MSQ) to interested Central and State Gencos and IPPs for road-mode lifting, with prioritization of Delivery Orders for critical power plants.

The improving trend provides a positive outlook for CIL's production and dispatch operations, with supplies to power plants gradually moving toward pre-monsoon levels as mining conditions continue to stabilize.